| (a) This section sets out licensing procedures for
military service members, military veterans, and military spouses
required under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 55 (relating to Licensing
of Military Service Members, Military Veterans, and Military Spouses).
For purposes of this section:
(1) "Active Duty" means current full-time military
service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty military
service as a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by §437.001,
Government Code, or similar military service of another state.
(2) "Armed Forces of the United States" means the army,
navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States
or a reserve unit of one of those branches of the armed forces.
(3) "Military service member" means a person who is
on active duty.
(4) "Military spouse" means a person who is married
to a military service member.
(5) "Military veteran" means a person who has served
on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
(b) An applicant shall provide documentation of the
applicant's status as a military service member, military veteran,
or military spouse. Acceptable documentation includes, but is not
limited to, copies of official documents such as military service
orders, marriage licenses, and military discharge records. The application
of a person who fails to provide documentation of his or her status
shall not be processed under the provisions of this section.
(c) Upon request, an applicant shall provide acceptable
proof of current licensure issued by another jurisdiction. Upon request,
the applicant shall provide proof that the licensing requirements
of that jurisdiction are substantially equivalent to the licensing
requirements of this state.
(d) An individual who holds a P.G. license or a GIT
Certification issued by TBPG is exempt from any increased fee or other
penalty imposed for failing to renew the license in a timely manner
if the individual establishes to the satisfaction of TBPG that the
individual failed to renew the license in a timely manner because
the individual was serving as a military service member.
(e) A Military Service Member who holds a P.G. license
or a GIT certification is entitled to two years of additional time
to complete any continuing education requirement and any other requirement
related to the renewal of the military service member's P.G. license
or GIT certification.
(f) The TBPG may issue a license to an applicant who
is a military service member, military veteran, or a military spouse
and who:
(1) Holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction
that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent
to the requirements for a P.G. license or a GIT certification in Texas;
or
(2) Within the five years preceding the application
date held the P.G. license or GIT certification in Texas.
(g) The executive director may waive any prerequisite
to obtaining a license for an applicant described by subsection (f)
after reviewing the applicant's credentials.
(h) An applicant who is a military service member,
military veteran, or a military spouse and who does not meet criteria
in subsection (f) may provide an alternate demonstration of competency
to meet the requirements for obtaining a P.G. license or a GIT certification.
(i) TBPG may accept as an alternate method of demonstrating
competence certain service, experience, training, or education obtained
in the military that is verified and that is relevant to the practice
of professional geoscience.
(j) As soon as practicable after a military service
member, military veteran or military spouse files an application for
a license, Board staff shall:
(1) Process the application; and
(2) Issue a license to an applicant who qualifies for
the license under this section. A license issued under this subsection
may not be a provisional license and must confer the same rights,
privileges, and responsibilities as a license not issued under this
section.
(k) This section may not apply to an applicant who:
(1) Holds a restricted license issued by another jurisdiction;
(2) Has held a license that was subject to disciplinary
action in another jurisdiction; or
(3) Has an unacceptable criminal history under the
Texas Geoscience Practice Act, rules of the Board, or under Texas
Occupations Code Chapter 53, related to Consequences of Criminal Conviction.
(l) Upon the issuance of a license under subsection
(g) of this section, Board staff shall notify the new licensee of
the requirements for the license holder to renew the license. A license
issued under subsection (g) shall be valid for a term of 12 months
from the end of the month the license is issued.
(m) TBPG shall waive the license application and examination
fees paid to the state for an applicant who is:
(1) A military service member or military veteran whose
military service, training, or education substantially meets all of
the requirements for the license; or
(2) A military service member, military veteran, or
military spouse who holds a current license issued by another jurisdiction
that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent
to the requirements for the license in this state.
(n) This section applies to an application for license
filed with the TBPG on or after January 1, 2016, except for subsection
(m), which applies to an application filed on or after September 1,
2015.
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